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Bishop Romuald Hayes was born in Malvern, Victoria on 30th January, 1892, his parents numbering amongst their distant relatives, the Irish Saint, Oliver Plunket, who was martyred at Tyburn, London. The family moved to Kyneton, where the future bishop received his early education. His secondary education was at the Jesuit-conducted Xavier College, Kew, Melbourne, where he was an excellent student and sportsman and was appointed College Captain.
The young Romuald Hayes entered St Columba’s College, Springwood NSW in 1912 and went to St Patrick’s College Manly two years later. Selected by Archbishop TJ Carr of Melbourne to complete his Theology studies at Propaganda College, Rome, he was ordained on 10th August 1917 in the Church of St Apollinaris by Cardinal Pompilii.
Returning to Australia, Romuald Hayes spent two years as assistant priest at Northcote, Melbourne before volunteering to join the newly founded Irish Columban Mission to China. After a brief visit to China, he returned to Essendon, the headquarters of the Columban Fathers in Australia to share in the work of developing the mission in Australia. In 1924 he became Director for the Mission, and was later Superior of the Columban Fathers in Australia.
Romuald Hayes was consecrated Bishop of Rockhampton by the Archbishop of Melbourne, the Most Rev Dr Daniel Mannix (as had been his predecessor, Bishop Shiel) on 3rd April 1932 and enthroned in St Joseph’s Cathedral, Rockhampton by Archbishop Duhig of Brisbane on 24th April 1932.
Bishop Hayes took a keen interest in Rural Development with particular reference to irrigation.
His death on 25th October, 1945 brought tributes from Australia and beyond, both religious and civic. Among messages received was a telegram from the President of the Irish Republic, Mr Eamonn de Valera.
“He was the very soul of the rural movement in Central Queensland, because he was convinced that the land affords the best homes for the people”.
Thus spoke Archbishop James Duhig of Brisbane at the obsequies of the Most Reverend Dr Romuald Plunket Hayes, fifth Bishop of Rockhampton. |
